As we look back on June 18th, 1983, we remember the somber anniversary of the execution of ten Bahá’í women in Shiraz, Iran. It has been forty years since these brave women were tragically put to death for their unwavering commitment to their faith. Their legacy lives on, inspiring countless individuals around the world.
We are proud to share the news of a global campaign that the Bahá’í International Community has recently launched in honour of these remarkable women. The campaign, named #OurStoryIsOne, aims to commemorate the lives of the ten executed women. Through this initiative, we hope to shed light on their story and bring attention to the enduring struggle for gender equality that women from diverse faiths and backgrounds in Iran have faced over the course of many decades—a struggle that persists even today.
In a recent article published by Aurora Banner, Parisa Sabet, a local resident, shares her memories of that time from the perspective of a child observing her parents before, during, and after the executions. Her father’s cousin, Akhtar Sabet, was one of the 10 women who were executed. She recalls:
“You didn’t hear a voice. Nobody was talking,’ she said. ‘I don’t remember anyone crying, which was really strange. Now that I think about it, it’s mostly because this was something that everybody was expecting. They were trying to stay strong.'”
Laura Broadley, “‘They were trying to stay strong’: Aurora resident remembers relative executed in Iran 40 years ago”, Aurora Banner, August 13, 2022.
Screenshot of article as it appears on the York Region website.
Bahá’í Aurora, Ontario 